complete high school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete high school" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of finishing or graduating from high school. Here is an example: "I am so proud of my daughter, she will be the first in our family to complete high school and go on to college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just 42% complete high school.

The Economist

Still, nearly half do not complete high school.

The New York Times

Let's look at those Americans who failed to complete high school, or who did complete high school but no more.

The Economist

Do I need to complete high school physics?

University of California, Berkeley

The days before flag-waving: I didn't even complete high school.

The New York Times

He either did or did not officially complete high school — another one of those elusive memories.

The New Yorker

But now, to build a complete high school, we need a huge investment".

The New Yorker

Only 40percentt of young boys attend elementary school, and only 4percentt complete high school.

The New York Times

African Americans who complete high school still have 18percentt unemployment, twice the white rate.

The Washington Post

Gurevich, 14 years old, will not complete high school this year and therefore is not eligible.

The New York Times - Arts

He did not complete high school and had no further formal education.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using "complete high school" followed by further details such as the graduation year or any honors received, to provide a comprehensive picture of the individual's academic background.

Common error

Avoid using verbs like "pass" or "finish" interchangeably with "complete" if you want to emphasize the comprehensive accomplishment of finishing high school. "Complete" implies fulfilling all requirements and graduating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete high school" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as an infinitive or within a clause to describe the action of finishing secondary education. As shown in Ludwig's examples, this phrase accurately represents the end of mandatory schooling.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "complete high school" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe the successful finishing of secondary education. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. With numerous examples across news, academia, and science, it's a common and neutral way to convey educational attainment. To enhance clarity, using specific details like graduation year can be beneficial. Related phrases, such as "graduate from high school" or "obtain a high school diploma", offer similar meanings but with slight nuances. Avoiding confusion with verbs like "pass" ensures the emphasis remains on comprehensive completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

graduate from high school

Focuses specifically on the act of graduating, marking the end of high school.

finish high school

Emphasizes the act of finishing the high school curriculum.

obtain a high school diploma

Highlights the achievement of receiving a diploma as proof of completion.

earn a high school degree

Similar to obtaining a diploma, but focuses on the 'earning' aspect.

get through high school

Indicates successfully navigating and finishing high school, often implying overcoming challenges.

pass high school

Suggests meeting the minimum requirements to advance through high school.

fulfil high school requirements

Focuses on meeting the necessary criteria for high school completion.

conclude high school studies

Emphasizes the termination of academic studies at the high school level.

achieve high school completion

Highlights the accomplishment of finishing high school.

undertake high school education to the end

More formal and emphasizes the dedication to complete the educational program.

FAQs

What does it mean to "complete high school"?

To "complete high school" means to successfully finish all the required courses and academic work, and to graduate with a diploma or certificate, signifying the end of secondary education.

What are some alternatives to saying "complete high school"?

You can use alternatives such as "graduate from high school", "finish high school", or "obtain a high school diploma" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "complete high school"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "complete high school". It is a standard and widely accepted way to describe finishing secondary education.

What is the difference between "complete high school" and "drop out of high school"?

"Complete high school" means to successfully finish and graduate from high school. In contrast, "drop out of high school" means to leave high school before graduating.